A Topgun tobacco for sure, #5 delivers strength and flavor while at the same time remains smooth from top to bottom. A little on the smoky side (thanks to the added naturally processed Cavendish), this thin cut ribbon will sate any tobacco urge for at least a couple of hours for even the hearty puffers among us.

This blend is similar to #7 and Dark Birdseye, but has a less pronounced Lakeland presence than both of those fine offerings.

There seems to be quite a mix of different opinions regarding how to rate this blend, that intrigued and endeared me to it!

My first impressions were good; the blend looked decent in the bag, was nicely hydrated and gave off a non-offensive aroma. I felt even more interested in it! So I loaded one of my Pete's and began a smoke. Oh dear, that's when it all started to go wrong!

I don't particularly get any extra sort of taste, nor sadly to I get much in the way of natural flavour, what I do get is a heavy, clotted, sticky sensation in my mouth which is most unpleasant. Unpleasant to the point of being disgusting. To be negative again: I think the smoke is too hot. I get an even burn but it's too damn hot. Another negative: it bites me....hard. The room note is okay and the nicotine's not bad but they aren't enough to help the rating.

A few have noted this blend's lack of floral essence, but since when does a tobacco blend get demerits for not being soapy-tasting?? Isn't this like knocking a McClelland blend for not tasting like Ketchup? Even those who have grown to like and even prefer the Kendal "floral essence" -- Great Scott, can't you appreciate tobacco without it?

Well, No. 5 tastes like tobacco, not soap, and I for one dig it. The taste is actually pretty good. I have smoked this both straight and cut with a bit of non-sweet Black Cavendish and it was good both ways, maybe better with the Black Cav. This stuff was made for mixing, I''m tellin' ya'.

Strong, but no big deal for those of us used to strong blends. I mean, it IS Virginia, so you know it's not going to be a knock-you-over smoke. Go slow if not used to nicotine but please do not be apprehensive. The room note is good, but then I like the aroma of good Virginia, which this is. I agree with Pipestud, this is good stuff.

BTW, as my review date, No. 5 still is in production according to the GH website.

I was rather disappointed in this blend. After smoking several bowls in different pipes I have come to the conclusion that the tobacco has a rather weak taste though it is very strong. I have tried many GH blends and this one is at the bottom! I love the “soapy” taste that most of there blends have and in that department this one receives a one out of ten. It has a reminiscent hint of it but completely looses it when lit. The tobacco is very finely cut into thin ribbons and lights up rather quickly. It also stayed lit very nicely and with minimal fuss which was nice. The charring light lent a hint of sweetness due to the Cavendish tobacco. It was a little spicy towards the middle of the bowl and finished with a strong bang. I really like strong tobaccos and this blend had that, what it lacked was something to draw me back to it!

This blend is dark tasting, robust, rich and slightly sharp providing a substantial nicotine punch. I did detect some of the characteristic Lakeland top note, but this essence is "just there". #5's cut is a fine ribbon (close to a shag) and it's appearance is mostly dark brown mingled with just a bit of black. This tobacco burns pretty quickly and, so, is just a bit warm. It reminds me of a stiff shot of espresso without enough sugar. Don't let the mention of Cavendish tobacco in the blend lull you into any kind of a sense that this is a mild-mannered tobacco because it isn't. Its strength approaches many of the ropes, so it's closer to strong than it is to medium. I can only recommend #5 for the more seasoned smokers. I must admit that I did not particularly enjoy my first pipeful, but the 2nd pipeful was better and by the 3rd and 4th pipe, I had developed a bit of a taste for it. So, #5 requires a bit of exposure and conditioning. This tobacco has very little to do with subtle nuances--it is all about directness. This is a once-a-day smoke--no more than that. And it's not intended for those contemplative moments--it's all about a quick, sharp kick in the seat of the pants. I certainly enjoy it at times.UPDATE: I have downgraded this to 2-stars, not because I like it any less, but because this forum's rating system is based on, "How would you recommend this tobacco and NOT how much did you like this tobacco?" It goes without saying that likes and dislikes enter the equation for making recommendations, but in the case of this tobacco in particular, though I enjoy it and would rate it 3-stars for me, I recognize that #5 is going to have a limited appeal and, therefore, a limited audience. There are a number of folks who undoubtedly shouldn't even try it. So, it probably merits no more than 2-stars.

It's not often I disagree with Sir Pipestud, but even as a GH lover, this blend misses the mark for me. It's strong, which is something I like, pretty full in flavor, which is another plus and its made by GH, yet another plus. But...it's boring. Plain and simple. The baccy is not complex and the cavendish is barely noticed. Is it a bad tobacco? No, and I have some cellared to see what some time does to it. However, I won't be buying more until I see where the aging takes this blend.

This tobacco is from a company that is well known for its scented, or “Lakeland” style tobaccos, but this isn't one of them. No. 5 Mixture is “a very traditional British blend of Virginia, dark fired, dark air-cured and cavendish tobaccos. Pure tobacco with no additional casings or top flavors.” Peterson's Irish Flake is what comes to mind when smoking this blend, though the sweetness evident in No. 5 is more pronounced. Not like eating a candy bar, mind you, but definitely pronounced enough that this tobacco might even appeal to a different group of smokers than Irish Flake.

The cut of this tobacco is somewhat shaggy and might be termed a chopped ribbon cut. The pieces of tobacco are small but it's easy to imagine that they might have at one time been combined into longer ribbons. This makes for an easy pack and light and there's no problem getting this stuff lit and burning.

Upon ignition, the dark-fired flavor comes right to the forefront. This is the only noticeable similarity to Irish Flake; No. 5 tends to be a little sweeter and not as strong in the nicotine department. One shouldn't discount No. 5's strength, however; after smoking a bowl of this blend, you know you've smoked.

There are probably as many thoughts about tobacco taste as there are tasters. Some smokers prefer a “complex” tobacco, providing them with a hint of first one flavor, then another completely different one. Others prefer tobaccos that provide a solid single flavor profile throughout the bowl (the first group might call this “monochromatic”). No. 5 Mixture falls into the second category. Its flavor is nothing if not reliable, maintaining the same basic Virginia flavor and sweetness throughout most of the bowl. Where this changes is near the end of the bowl. A slight ashiness develops toward the end and the sweetness diminishes but doesn't disappear completely. By the time you realize this has happened, you've drawn the last puff and the bowl is complete.

Tobacco taste preferences being what they are, making a recommendation to someone is an iffy proposition. To be sure, No. 5 Mixture is a worthy tobacco in its own right; however, it would also make a great stepping stone blend if you're working up to stronger tobaccos. If you already smoke tobaccos of Irish Flake's ilk, this will provide a similar smoke with enough difference to be interesting.

This is (in line the "tin description" at the head of this page, taken from the GH website) an untopped musty Va/Bur with an addition of dark Cavendish. My sample (which I happen to know was fresh in) was a little too moist and benefitted from some airing. Strength is about medium and perfectly managable.

This is not a typical "Lakeland" scented offering. Try Ennerdale or Kendal Flake for that.

Bulk: A very long, stringy ribbon cut, with quite a sweet smell like syrup on toast, ranging from black-brown to light brown, mostly brown. Supplied only in bulk, it is fairly dry and leaves no residue on the fingers.

Lighting & Burning: Lights with one match all the way to the bottom of a bowl and burns quickly.

Taste & Aroma: If ever there was a Gawith blend that displays the signature Kendal scent, this is it. It is a potpourri of a flowery taste and aroma that is characteristic of the Lake District. There are hints of toasted syrup in the background. Imparts a disagreeable salsa feel to the tongue.

Nicotine: Medium to strong

Room Note: I like this type of mellow aroma left behind, like scented and toasted marshmellows.

Overall: For a definition of a scented Lake District blend, this is it. The toppings command all of the attention; it would be just as well if the Virginias were not even present. Concerning the Lake District scent, see some of the reviews of SG's Grousemoor and Sam's Flake.

GH's Scottish Mixture and SG's Scotch Cut Mixture and Best Brown are all likewise stated by the blenders as having no added flavor. GH's No. 20 Latakia Mixture is its cousin, No. 20 having Latakia added.

No. 5 is definitely a candidate for an indoor smoke, but not all day due to the swoon brought on by the nicotine. For the purist, the scent is a bit over the top, but there's nothing wrong with No. 5.